Philadelphia (19-10-7) at Vancouver (20-14-3), 10:00 p.m. EST
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) -- The Vancouver Canucks
made a big splash in the hockey world by signing coveted free
agent Mats Sundin.
While the 17-year veteran is set to begin skating with his new
club on Tuesday, the Canucks hope to end their extended
homestand on a good note when they host the Philadelphia Flyers.
After much speculation and rumors for several months, Sundin
signed with Vancouver on December 18. His offensive prowess
will surely help the Canucks, who wrap up a stretch of playing
seven of eight games at home.
Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault is excited to meet his new
player, but has set no timetable for Sundin to take the ice.
"The plan is to meet him (Tuesday) morning and from there I'm
going to find out how he feels, what he's been doing on and off
the ice," Vigneault said. "Until I sit down with him and talk
to him and go through a normal process on where a player stands,
I have no idea what's coming up here.
"Once I've sat down with him and talked to him and figured out
where he stands and what we're going to do here in the next
little while to get him ready, we're going to make that decision
(when he will play)."
A nine-time All-Star, the 37-year-old Sundin recorded a
club-high 32 goals and 78 points in 2007-08 with Toronto.
The Canucks are coming off a 3-0 shutout of the Ottawa Senators
on Sunday.
Philadelphia has lost two in a row and three of four, but has
enjoyed success against Vancouver.
The Flyers have outscored the Canucks, 32-10, during a six-game
winning streak in Vancouver that dates back to December 31,
1995. They have scored 65 goals in winning 12 of the last 15
matchups overall against the Canucks.
